Booz Allen Hamilton Associate Beth Mancuso had hoped that being an award-winning writer for a Fortune 500 company and a former Intelligence Analyst for the Army National Guard would inspire her children, but was surprised to find that her resilience in a particularly trying episode may have proved to be the most inspirational of all.

In 2007, when Beth’s husband was transferred out of state, her leadership agreed to let her telecommute full-time from what would be their new hometown. Beth planned to stay behind to sell the couple’s home, before she and her then 5- and 6-year-old children were reunited with her husband.

Instead, their home went up for sale just as the Washington, D.C.-area housing market plummeted. When it finally sold a year later, the news was bittersweet; Beth’s husband had asked for a divorce the week before.

Now Beth had more than the emotional ordeal of a divorce to deal with, but the prospect of having to vacate her home with two young children in a matter of weeks—with no destination—while continuing to work full time.

Undaunted, Beth moved in with family and set a goal of buying a home within a year.

 “And through it all, Booz Allen was incredibly supportive,” says Beth, who celebrated 15 years with the firm in August. “My leadership allowed me to telecommute, which made all the difference. I was able to continue being successful at work, Camden and Megan completed the school year in a loving environment, and we moved into a wonderful new home in Charlotte where I’ve continued to telecommute full-time.”

Now 10 and 11, Megan and Camden enjoy volunteering with their mother at Booz Allen-supported community service events like the International Coastal Cleanup.

 “Divorce can be a big set back for young children,” says Beth. “Many are in a state of flux and see their parents in a vulnerable state. But because of Booz Allen’s support, my children saw that a working mom can persevere through adversity, be there 100 percent for her family, and still continue to be successful at the job she loves.”

Connecting with other families after transferring to a new city can be hard for employees of this strategy- and technology-consulting firm. To the rescue comes its Family Ambassador program, which links recent transplants with established locals, who offer advice on everything from the best schools to where to buy a home. Moms get to know their new colleagues at firm outings and chat with them further over its online social network, hello. Seminars and events hosted by the in-house Parents forum provide guidance on international adoptions, the college admissions process and assistive devices for children with special needs. Corporate sponsorship of museum exhibits and cultural activities puts firm families at the front of the line for previews of area attractions.

Chairman & CEO Ralph W. Shrader, PhD

Senior VP, People Services Betty Thompson

Women managers/execs 31% 

Women among top earners 22% 

Women hires in 2010 36% 

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave offered 8 

Allows new moms to “phase back” into work with reduced hours? Yes

Offers affinity group for new mothers? Yes

 Offers backup childcare? Yes

Employees working flexibly 80%

An annual profit-sharing bonus worth at least 10% of their salaries helps moms at Booz Allen Hamilton save for the future.

Change was in the air at this strategy- and technology-consulting firm last year. Its launch of The Way We Work, an initiative that reconfigures the workplace around employees' real-life work habits and responsibilities, helped some women start to work from home (or closer to it), while others started "hoteling,‚" or reserving office space only when needed. The Women's Agenda, a new three-year commitment to increasing the ranks of female executives, is expanding development opportunities for women, as is a monthly series of workshops, coaching sessions and networking events. Advancing workers up to $5,000 annually to cover college costs ensures that moms don't have to raid the family budget to advance. For help with the kids, they can count on the child-care center at HQ, inexpensive backup care and tuition discounts at national chains.

Chairman & CEO Ralph W. Shrader, PhD

SVP, People Services Betty Thompson

Women managers, senior managers and corporate execs 30%

Women among top earners 21%

Women on board of directors 0%

Women corporate executive hires in 2009 0%

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year* 11%

Women participating in formalized executive succession planning last year* 7%

Women promoted last year who utilized a formal flexible work arrangement 9%

Do formal compensation policies reward managers who help women advance? Yes

*Percentages reflect number of women participants versus company’s total female workforce.